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Original poster

A level choices for yr 11’s who’ve missed big chunks of curriculum

40 replies

ContessaVerde · 30/06/2021 14:26

Hi, I’m not sure if there is a thread already about A level choices.
I just think it’s particularly tricky for young people to decide; my dd did a maths taster where she was told that the basis for A level was the higher level maths gcse content.
She was in set 2, doing higher level, got a 7 in her December mocks, bit feels she’s missed so much content she’ll never be able to keep up.
I’ve heard in the past that even getting a A isn’t good enough to do A level maths, you really have to have nailed all the content with an A * just to consider it.
So surely Maths A level is now only advisable in a very few cases where schools did carry on delivering the curriculum through the lockdowns?

I’m wondering if maths is the only subject that massive gaps in teaching is going to affect?

It’s shoddy that there aren’t going to be any catch up progammes to try and make up for thhe gaps and it will just be on individual schools to muddle through.

Anyone else feeling like this year group is going to be badly affected ongoing?
Anybody got any good ideas about how to overcome the challenges?

Thanks

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Original poster
ContessaVerde · 06/07/2021 09:27

@SusannaM
Interesting people have adjusted their plans in response to their experience of lockdown learning.
I am supportive to my dd’s learning, and offer my time, and at times have paid for extra help for her.
She is fortunate to have that. I wonder how many kids out there are like her, on the borderline of being able to do A level, and maybe just accepting that a less demanding course of study might be better because they aren’t well prepared for A level.

My daughter isn’t hoping to achieve A’s at A level. She doesn’t have high aims for a university place. But she is interested in science and feels that if she doesn’t study it now, she never will.

Hopefully she can get into a routine of working on the gaps through the summer with the help of some of the resources that MN’ers have posted on here.

OP posts:
AnoymousCoward · 02/07/2021 00:19

Thank you so much @KittyMcKitty! Thanks

KittyMcKitty · 01/07/2021 22:44

Tumbleton yes thanks for adding it’s not just Physics and Maths - it really is a great resource.

Original poster
ContessaVerde · 01/07/2021 20:51

Thanks for the suggestions of study sites and books.
Really helpful x

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Original poster
ContessaVerde · 01/07/2021 20:50

Yes ask if they offer core maths that would be better than taking A Level
This would be great. It’s now in her question list.

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Tumbleton · 01/07/2021 19:39

@KittyMcKitty

And physics and maths tutor site
Seconded. "Physics and Maths Tutor" is a great resource which includes other subjects and a range of exam boards.
KittyMcKitty · 01/07/2021 19:13

And physics and maths tutor site

KittyMcKitty · 01/07/2021 19:12

@AnoymousCoward

Is that the whole name- free science lessons guy? My DD feels her biology is somewhat lacking ATM, and wants to catch up over summer.
It’s freesciencelessons on you tube my dd (who’s going to do A level Bio & Chem) & her friends really like him.
AnoymousCoward · 01/07/2021 09:40

Is that the whole name- free science lessons guy?
My DD feels her biology is somewhat lacking ATM, and wants to catch up over summer.

KittyMcKitty · 01/07/2021 09:18

I’ll be honest I don’t rate the Oak stuff it seems very basic and incomplete for sciences and maths (no idea about other stuff). But you’re right there are tons of resources out there - my dd and her friends really rate the Free Science Lessons guy and Corbett Maths is fab.

ChloeDecker · 01/07/2021 08:14

Oak National Academy still has all their lessons for free online. With just over 2 months to the start of her lessons, I would strongly recommend that she goes through any lessons/topics she has missed or needs to go over again.
With science, because they didn’t have to do practicals, they had more of a chance to cover all the topics, and in most cases, did as a result, so probably not something to be as concerned about, hopefully.
By going over the lessons online, this will also be something very strong that she can put into any future personal statements/applications as proof of her drive/independent working.

HasaDigaEebowai · 01/07/2021 08:05

Although I have always wondered how that works in a black and white subject like maths

HasaDigaEebowai · 01/07/2021 08:04

I’m not sure that anyone is struggling to get kids to do stem subjects anymore. They are by far the most popular now at my dcs school. About 2/3 of them do maths A Level for example.

Maths A level is really hard though and personally I wouldn’t be advising it with a 7 at GCSE, particularly if the school didn’t cover the whole curriculum. I know other will disagree but it depends on what A Level grades you’re aiming at. They’re graded on a curve remember.

LemonRoses · 01/07/2021 07:52

Has she not been doing independent study throughout? That is likely to be a bigger stumbling block than some missing curriculum knowledge. She needs to want to work over and above set/taught work in her chosen subjects and be able to work independently to do well at A level and beyond.

Now would be a very good time to support the development of a structured approach to learning. You could also use online or face to face tuition to go over areas she finds difficult. I think face to face are in high demand at the moment but online tutoring can be very good. Summer school to catch up on missed work might be good, if you can afford it.

GoWalkabout · 01/07/2021 07:44

Yes ask if they offer core maths that would be better than taking A Level. Dd got a 9 in maths and works hard loves maths and she came back in shock after an awful year 12 maths mock she might not pass. Although the flip side is that maths and physics help each other on some topics.

SusannaM · 01/07/2021 07:18

DD took higher maths early and got an A* and was intending taking A level. She was then entered for an additional level 2 maths qualification (not a GCSE). The teaching (and teacher) was appalling over lockdown, they pretty much didn't have any. She struggled with the assessments, thinks she has barely scraped a pass and is in no way considering A level now. Lots of yr11 here have been influenced by how much or how little support they have over the last year and have changed their options accordingly.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 01/07/2021 07:09

At Ds's sixth form if you are doing physics but not maths A level then you also have to do core maths to help with the maths side of physics. I believe it is the same if you are taking computer science too.

And yes, a 7 at GCSE in maths isn't automatically going to get you an A* or an A at A level unless she really works for it. But she does have the whole summer to do any bridging work. I know everyone needs a break but considering the average teen must be awake for 14 hours then that is a lot of time that they have every day. It would be very easy to block out time to work on the 3 subjects your DD will be taking at sixth form. Like a mini school day.

clary · 30/06/2021 22:03

@TeenMinusTests

I suspect that maths, science and MFL will be more impacted as those subjects build more on knowledge whereas humanities build on skills. Though going into A level on a lower skill base will have its own issues I guess.

A motivated student studying for an hour a day could get quite a lot covered in July and August I would have thought.

Certainly I would recommend anyone going forward with MFL this year to spend time over the summer revising vocab and making sure verbs are secure; maybe watch a couple of TL films for fun. That's true every year tho really, but more so in 2021.
Original poster
ContessaVerde · 30/06/2021 18:41

Tumbleton, sounds like your son did really well with the independent study side of things, well done him.

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Tumbleton · 30/06/2021 17:51

It's two months until A-level courses start, so there's time to fill in gaps in GCSE knowledge and do some practice. There are loads of resources online.

This would also be good preparation for the independent learning required for A-level studies.

DS was in Y11 last year, and didn't have any teaching after March. He was worried about the six month gap and then the jump to Maths A-level so he worked through the AQA Level 2 Further Maths course by himself over the lockdown and summer holidays (we ordered the textbook online).

Original poster
ContessaVerde · 30/06/2021 17:51

Thanks Kitty!
Yes you are right, the academic route will require independent study skills which my dd does need to work on.

She is also considering other routes as well; she’s a bright girl who has been targeted high grades, but aware that doesn’t always mean A level is the best route. Especially with dyslexia.

Will definitely be looking for maths for physics materials, even looking at that kind of stuff will help her see what she’ll need to do so wether she’s got it in her.

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KittyMcKitty · 30/06/2021 17:34

Comprehensive not company!!

KittyMcKitty · 30/06/2021 17:34

@ContessaVerde I don’t think it’s necessarily that private / selective = good company = bad - I know some non selective schools who were excellent and some grammars which were beyond awful. My children were fortunate to be at a school whose provision was great.

I would recommend your dc prints off the full gcse spec for all the subjects they’re taking at A level and consolidates them thoroughly. If they haven’t already been told it would also be useful to ask which are the first topics they will be studying in Sept and make notes on them.

There are cgp maths to biology etc books which would also be good to go through.

I would work on the assumption that the school is expecting them to know thoroughly the entire (higher single science) spec for everything they are studying using notes, text books, physics & maths tutor etc etc.

CGP has tons of stuff plus we are required to get the relevant exam board textbooks for A level.

My ds’s school is very much not back teaching to fill in the gaps - a large part of A level is independent study so this is a great time to hone those skills.

Original poster
ContessaVerde · 30/06/2021 17:14

They’re in a strong position as school switched to live online lessons from day 1 back in Mar 2020 and have run normal timetable the whole way through.

Yeah, this is not the case for my dd at all.
It feels like the gaps between selectives/private and comps etc is just getting wider.

Thanks for the suggestions about bridging materials, I’ll have a look at these with my dd.

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KittyMcKitty · 30/06/2021 16:13

My dd is staying at the same school (a grammar school - they have all done triple science)

They have been told they have to consolidate the entire spec before September- students coming from a different school will need to be familiar with their syllabus and if not done triple fill in the gaps.

They have various other activities to do and need to read / make Cornell notes for the first modules they are studying in September.

They have various maths for chemistry/ biology etc things to do over holidays. They will be tested on these in September and if don’t achieve min mark will have to retest (this is the norm).

They’re in a strong position as school switched to live online lessons from day 1 back in Mar 2020 and have run normal timetable the whole way through. Those coming from outside have to ensure their knowledge is at same level.